title: Note: Automated electrochemical etching and polishing of silver scanning tunneling microscope tips.
abstract: Fabrication of sharp and smooth Ag tips is crucial in optical scanning probe microscope experiments. To ensure reproducible tip profiles, the polishing process is fully automated using a closed-loop laminar flow system to deliver the electrolytic solution to moving electrodes mounted on a motorized translational stage. The repetitive translational motion is controlled precisely on the μm scale with a stepper motor and screw-thread mechanism. The automated setup allows reproducible control over the tip profile and improves smoothness and sharpness of tips (radius 27 ± 18 nm), as measured by ultrafast field emission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Shawn M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Perdue
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Perez
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tallarida
authors.forename: Julia H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Majors
authors.forename: V Ara
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Apkarian
authors.forename: Joonhee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee